Door latch



Oct. 14, 1952 c. o. GosERuD DOOR LATCH Filed May 23, 194e l new,

6 l5 29 4?54 5mm 33 CHESTER' O. GO ERUD Patented Oct. 14, 1952 Chester0. Gcserud, St. Paul, Minn. i

Application May 23, 194.6; Serial No. 671,848

11 Claims. (Cl. 22.2.-226) My .invention relates to door latches andparticularly to latches for use in conjunction with screen doors andstorm doors.

An object of the invention resides in providing a latch which is easy tooperate.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a latch which Willhold the door tightly closed.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a latch in whichpressure on the latch lug l will not release the latch.

An object of the invention resides in providing a latch in which thedoor may be slammed shut and the latch lug positively brought intolatching position.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a latchhaving a housing and a lever pivoted thereto and in pivoting to saidlever an arm carrying a striker lug for engagement with the strikerplate of the invention.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a latch lug pivotedto the arm and that can be moved into engagement with the striker plate.

A still further object of the invention resides in the construction formounting the spring which urges the latch lug into engagement with thestriker plate.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing said arm with a catchand in providingV a locking member for engaging the catch to restrainmovement of the latch lug with respect `to the lever.

An objectof the invention resides in forming in the housing a slotthrough which said lever extends and in which the same is movable and inproviding a follower connected to the lever and arranged to close saidslot.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of a portion of a screen door and casingillustrating an embodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with portions of the lever andhousing cutaway and showing the operating mechanism of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the parts in alteredposition.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in still differentposition.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken-on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. Gis a sectional view taken on line--Ii-of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view` similar ,to 3 showing the partsin still-differentlposition.`

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in thedrawings; a portion of a door III which is movable-toward and fromacasing. I I. Thiscasinghas a stop I2- With which the door-|10 engageswhen in closed position. The dooris hinged in the customary vmanner atthe edge of the-.sameopposite the stop I2.

My improved latch Acomprises a housing I3 which is vconstructed intwosections I4. and- I5. The section I4 has a Wall I6- which overliestheinner surface I'I of the door, I0. Thesa-id section `also has a wall I8which overliesthe edge 20 of the door which faces the casing II. Thiswall is formed withV an offset' I 9. The section I5- of the housing I3has a wall 21|- which overlies the outer surface 2v2 of the door I0.Said section also has a wall 23 which overlies the wall I8 of section I4and iits4 into the offset I9. This, permits of forming asubstantially-smooth surface at the edge 20 of the door and permits ofattaching the housing to doors of varying thickness. In the wall I 6 ofsection I4 of housing I3 is formed a slot 24. This slot is'v constructedby severing a portion of the metal of the wall-and bending said portioninwardly at right angles as best shown inl Fig. 3. This portion forms aback to the housing which is indicated at 25 in said figure. The sectionI4 has an opening 26 formed in the wall I8 of the same and extendingthroughout the width of said wall. The .metal removed from the Wall I8in the formation-,oi` this opening is turned back into the interior ofthe housing to form two ears 21 shown in- Figs. 1 and 6. The wall 23 ofthe section I5 is formed with an opening 33 Which registers` with theopening 26. In conjunction with the housing I3, a wall structure 28 isemployed which consists of a back 29 and two side walls 3| and 32. Thiswall structure is of such dimension that the same fits snugly betweenthe back 25 and the wall I8 and so that the two side walls 3| and 32iitsnugly between the ears21 as shown in Fig. 6. The wall 2|V of sectionI5 is formed with an opening 34 which forms a continuation of theopenings 33 and 26 in the Walls I8 and 23.

The door I0 is formed with a cavity 82 which receives the housing I3.vThe walls I6 and'fZI of the housing overly the surfaces I1 and 22 o'fvthe door I0 upon the exterior thereof while the walls I8 and 23 arereceived in a recess g83.1ormed in the edge 20 of the door. The sectionI4 ofi. the

'ment relative to the striker lug 46.

housing I3 is attached to the door by means of screws 84 and 85 whilethe section I5 is similarly attached by means of screws not shown.

Operating in the slot 24 and in the opening 34 in housing I3 is a lever35. This lever is constructed from sheet metal having a back 36, sides31 and 3B and flanges 39 issuing from the said sides 31 and 38 andforming a composite wall opposite the back 36. `The lever 35 is soconstructed that handles 4I and 42 are formed on the same and at theends thereof and by means of which the said lever may be manipulated.Handle 42 is situated exteriorly of the door and handle 4I is situatedinteriorly of the door. lever 35 is pivoted to the housing I3 by meansof a pintle 43 which extends jointly through the walls 31 and 38 of saidlever and through the ears 21 and the side walls 3| and 32 of the wallstructure 28. This lever is so situated that the same clears the stop I2and so that said lever may swing from theY position shown in Fig. 1 tothat yshown in Fig. 3. I Within the interior'of the lever 35 is situatedan arm 44. This arm'isfpivoted to said lever by means of apintle 45whiche'xtends through-the walls 31 and' 38 of saidlever and 'said armand which is located interiorly of the' door and outwardly of thehousing I3.v Thel arm'44 lhas a striker lug 46 formed on the same whichis vadapted to engagea striker plate 41 attached to the casing Il ofthedoor. This striker plate is secured to the casing in the usualmanner andhas an opening 48 inthe same and through which the lug 4B may extend.The casing I I is recessed as indicated at 49 to receivethelug 46. Theedge of said` striker plate is turned back so as to form a cam adaptedto engage a curved edge 52 on the striker lug 4 6 whereby 'the saidstriker lug may be' forced inwardly into the housing I3 when the 'saidlug engages the striker plate.

Pivoted to the arrmy 44 is a latch lug 53. This latch lug has an ear 54projecting outwardly therefrom which overlies a similar ear 55 on thearm 44 and immediately back of the striker lug 46.v A pintle 56 passesjointly through said ears and pivots the latch lug 53 for swinging move-Both the lugs 46 and 53 operate in a slot 51 formednin the back 3 6 ofthe lever` 35"and are adaptedto project outwardly through the slots 26and 33 in housing I3. The latch lug 53 has a surface 6U which is adaptedto engage the inner surface 59 of the wall i4. When thersaid surface isin engagement with the surface 59, the lug 53 is restrained fromswinging movement relative to thehousing I3 kand lever 35. The surface60 consists'of la flat portion 58 and a curved portion 6 3 which mergesinto the flat portion 58. The said latch lug also hasl a surface 6Iwhich is adapted to engage the edge 62 ofthe striker' plate 41 when thedoor is closed. The portion 63 of surface 60 clears the structure of thestriker plate 41 when the latch lug is being moved into and out of theopening 43 in the striker plate.

IThe lever 35 is urged to its position shown in Fig. 1 by means of acompression coil spring 64 which encircles the ears 54 and 55 of thelugs 46 and 53 and is seated against the arm 44 and the lug 53. Theother end of this spring is seated against the back 29 of wall structure28 and en- "circles aboss 65 formed on said back.

vlFor the purpose-of closing the slot 24 in the H wall I6 of lhousingI3, a cover plate l66 is ern- .'ployedwhich'overlies said slot. Thiscover plate isguided for movement by mean'sof a guide' 61 best shown inFig. 5. Said guide is formed by striking up a portion of the wall I6 oneach side of the slot 24. This construction forms two edges 68 and 69along which the plate 66 rides. Said. guide is further formed to providea strap 1I which overlies the cover plate 65 at its outer end and holdsthe same in position. The cover plate 6B has a slot 12 in its innermostend and through which the arm 44 projects; -The said cover plate isconstructed with a hook 13 which hooks about the pintle 45 and causesthe said cover plate to move with the lever 35 when the YThe i lever 35is moved to the right as viewed in Figs. 4 and '1. When the lever 35 ismoved toward the left, said hook engages a part movable with the lever35 namely the finger 19 of locking member A15 which will be presentlydescribed in detail thus causing corresponding movement of the coverplate. The said cover plate thus forms a follower which follows with thesaid lever and closes the slot 24 as the lever moves toward its positionshown in Fig. 1. v

For the purpose of locking the leverv 35 from movement, the arm 44 isconstructed with a catch 14. This catch has an operating member 86 onthe end ofthe same which engages the cover plate 56. The catch 14 isadapted to be engaged by means of a locking member 15'. This lockingmember has a spring 16. riveted to the ber 15 is urged in back of thecatch 14, the lever 35 is restrained from movement and the door islocked.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the parts areinnormal position, Whether the door is open or closed, the lever 35 andthe two lugs 46 and 53 are in the positions shown in Figs. l and 2. Ifthe door be open andthe same is moved toward closing. position, the edge5 2`of the striker lug 46 engages the cam 5I of striker plate 41 andforces the arm 44 inwardly.

This moves the latch lug 53 into the position shown in Fig. 4 withoutswinging of the lever 35, movement of the two lugs 46 and 53 beingresisted by the spring 64. Continued movement of the door toward closingposition will bring the lugs 46 and 53 opposite the opening 4S instriker' plate 41 and the spring 64 will cause the said lugs to enterthe opening 48 and assume the positions shown in Fig. 2. It will benoted that the portion 58 of surface 60 on latch lug 53 lies oppositethe surface 59 of wall I6 of housing I3 and that the surface 6I of saidlatch lug lies adjacent the edge (52` of the striker plate 41. Movementof the door outwardly is restrained by engagement of the surface 6I withthe edge 62, This movement is resisted by the portion 56 of surface 60engaging the surface 59. In this position, the latch lug 53 is heldimmovable and pressure on the same is ineffective to shift its positionand ineffective to cause opening of the door. vWhen it becomes desirableto open` the door manually, lever 35 is swung by means of 'eitherz ofthe handles 4I or 42 toward theposition shown in Fig. 3. During suchmovement the pintle l5 approaches the plate 56 and operating -member 82being in engagement therewithfand so'held'by spring 64 swings the arm d4relative to lever 35. This moves the arm A inwardly into housing I3 andthelatch lug 53 which ispivoted thereto is withdrawnirom engagementwith. the striker plate lll. As the latch lug 53 -movesthe iiat portion58 and then the. curved portion` 63 follows along the surface 59 of thehousing i3. Thelocation ofthe parts when the lugs lit and 53 are aboutto clear the striker plate l is'shown in Fig. '7. The relation of theparts when the said lugs are fully retracted is shownin Fig.' 3. Sincethe at portion 53 of surface St of latch lug 53 is relatively short, asmall movement' of the. arm Iii! causes the curved portion E3 ofsurfacek6i] of said latch lug to follow along the surface 59 of housing i3. Thiscauses the surface El of said latch lug to rapidly recede from the edge62 of striker plate lil'. Thus, the door li) commences to swingoutwardly at the same time that the latch lug is being disengagedthereby causing the latch lug to roll onfthe edge Gi instead of slidealong the same. The fact that the portion 6I of surface Si! of the lug53 recedes from edge 62 of the Stroker plate permits of latching thedoor when the same is partly open as would be the case if ice or otherforeign matter became disposed between the door and casing; In suchposition the parts would be disposed f as shown in Fig. 7 and the curvedportion tt of surface Si) would restrain swinging of the lug 53 withoutmovement of lever 35. The arcuate movement of the latch lug 553 causedby lswinging about the pintle 115' is compensated for by pivoting thesame to the arm fifi. Thus the said latch lug can move' inwardly intothe housing in a substantially parallel direction with reference to thesurface 53 when the latch lug is being disengaged from the striker'plate li?. Upon restriker lug employed, the latch lug is easilyretracted to permit of the same clearing the striker plate and enteringinto the opening in the striker plate. By the use of the pivoted armconnected to the lever, the door maybe moved into closing positionwithout causing swinging of the lever and the handles connected tothesame. The opening formed in the housing `is maintained closed when thelatch is in closing position so as to prevent entry of insects throughthe latch and into the interior of, the building with which the latch isbeing used'. .By means of the latching mechanism shown, the arm carryingthe latch lug serves a dual purpose and is held from movement by meansof a slide whereby positive locking of the parts is secured.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what claim as newand desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

l. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, an armpivoted to said lever, a striker plate opposite said housing having astriking surface and a latching surface, a latch lug having a bodyportion extending outwardlyL beyond said housing and an ear, said armhaving a strikingv lug xed relative thereto and formed with a bodyportion adapted to normally project outwardly beyond said housing, anear on said arm, pivot means for connecting the ear of said latch lug tothe ear on said arm and a compressioncoil'spring encircling said ears atone end and seated against the body portion of said latch lug and saidarm and seated at its other -end against `said housing, said springserving to urge said lugs outwardly through the opening'in said wall-ofthe housing, said latch lug having a latching surface engageable withthe latching surface of said striker plate and. a second surface formedvwith a flat portion and a curved portion merging` into one another,said housing having a surface adapted to beengaged by said secondsurface of the latch lug to restrain movement between the latchingsurfaces of the latch lug and striker plate, said striking lug having asurface engageable with the striking surface of said strikerV plate andleading said second surfaceof said latch lug and` causing inwardmovement of said latch lug upon closing of the door.

2. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, an armpivoted to said lever at a locality outwardly from said housing, a latchlug carried by said arm and normally projecting .through said housing,resilient means for urging said arm and latch lug outwardly, astrikerplate having a latching surface, said latch lug having a latchingsurface engaging the latching surface of said striker plate andrestraining openingv of the door, said housing having a surface and saidlatch lug having a second surface engageable with the surface of saidhousing to restrain movement between said latch lug and striker plate atthe latching surfaces thereof, a catch formed on said arm outwardly ofsaid housing, guide means on said housing engaging said catch andcausing swingingr of said arm relative to said lever upon swinging ofsaid lever and retraction of said latch lug along the surface of saidhousing and a slide guided for movement along said lever and having aportion adapted to engage said catch to restrain movement between saidarm and lever and to prevent swinging of said lever to lock said latchlug in extended position.

3. In a door latch, a housing having a wall formed with a slot, a leverpivoted to said housing and extending through and movable in vsaid slot,a follower connected to said lever 'and .closing said slot, means forguiding said follower for movement in the same direction as saidy lever,an arm, pivot means between said arm and lever, a latch lug carried bysaid arm andrnorrnally extending outwardly beyond said housing, said armextending through said follower, an operating member on the projectingportion of said arm and engaging saidgfollower, said pivot meansapproaching said follower upon swingingof the lever and causing swingingmovement of the arm by means of said operating member and movement ofthe latch lug into the housing and resilient means for urging the latchlug outwardly. `ll. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to saidhousing, an arm pivoted to said lever, a striker plate opposite saidhousing and havingA a striking surface and a latching surface, a'latchlug pivoted tor said arm and normally projecting outwardly beyond saidhousing and in the` direction of said striker plate, said lug having .asurface adapted to engage Vthe latching surfacev of said' striker plateto restrain relative movement therebetween, said latch lug having ashort fiat surface adapted to engage a corresponding surface on saidhousing to restrain relative movement between said latch lug andhousing, said latch lug further having a curved surface merging lintosaid fiat surface and adapted to clear the surface on said housing afterthe flat surface has passed the same, the pivot for said latch lug beingdisposed intermediate the first named surface of the same and the flatsurface and inwardly thereof, means acting between said lever andhousing and adapted upon swinging movement of said lever to move saidlatch lug in the direction of the denoted surface on said housing tofree the same from the housing and resilient means for urging said latchlug outwardly.

5. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, an armpivoted to said lever, a striker plate opposite said housing and havinga striking surface and a latching surface, a latch lug pivoted to saidarm and normally projecting outwardly beyond said housing, said latchlug being movable toward and from the striker plate, said latch lughaving` a surface adapted to progressively engage said latching surfaceas the door closes and the latch lug moves toward the striker plate,said housing having a part opposite said surface of said latch, saidlatch lug further having a restraining surface adapted to follow alongsaid part of said housing as the latch lug moves toward said strikerplate and assisting in resisting movement of the latch lug in adirection to restrain opening movement of thedoor at various settings ofsaid latch lug relative to said striker plate and resilient means forurging said latch lug outwardly and yieldingly holding said latch lug inengagement with the striker plate.

6. In a door latch, a striker plate carried by the door frame having astriking surface and a latching surface, a housing carried by the door,a lever pivoted to said housing for swinging movement in a horizontalplane and extending outwardly through said housing, an arm pivoted tosaid lever outwardly of said housing for swinging movement relative tosaid lever and housing in a horizontal plane, said housing having anopening facing the striker plate and being formed adjacent said openingwith an abutment surface parallel with and spaced from said latchingsurface of the striker plate when the door is in closed position, alatch lug pivoted to said arm at a locality inwardly from said openingin the housing and within the housing and intermediate the marginalportions of said housing adjacent said opening, said latch lug beingmovable in the opening in the housing and toward the striker plate to aposition between the latching surface of the striker plate and theabutment surface of the housing when the door is closed, said latch lughaving a restraining surface disposed adjacent to and extendinggenerally in the same direction as said abutment surface on the housingand coacting therewith to restrain movement of the latch lug away fromthe striker plate, said latch lug having a curved surface merging intosaid restraining surface, a striker lug xed on said arm and movable inthe opening: in the housing and toward the striker plate, said lugengaging the striking surface of the striker plate in advance of thelatch lug on closing of the door and swinging said arm relative to thelever and retracting the latch lug away from the striker plate andwithdrawing the restraining surface away from the abutment surface toaccommodate swinging of the latch lug Cil with the curved surfacethereof following the abutment surface, said striker lug in its movementclearing the marginal portions of said housing adjacent the openingtherein and resilient means for urging said lugs outwardly through theopening in said housing.

7. In a door latch, a housing having a wall formed with a slot, a leverpivoted to said housing and extending through and movable in said slot,a follower connected to said lever and closing said slot, guide meansfor guiding said follower for movement in the same direction as saidlever, an arm, pivot means between said arm and lever and disposedoutwardly of said follower, said pivot me'ans approaching said followerupon swinging of the lever in one direction, a latch lug carried by saidarm and normally extending outwardly beyond said housing, said armextending through said follower, an operating member on the projectingportion of said arm and engaging said follower and causing swingingmovement of said arm upon swinging movement of said lever, said memberbeing situated closer to the pivot for the arm than said latch lug andcausing rapid movement of said latch lug into said housing and resilientmeans for moving said latch lug outwardly.

8. In a door latch, a housing having a wall, a lever pivoted to saidhousing and extending through said wall, an arm carried by said lever,pivot means between said lever and arm and disposed exteriorly of saidhousing, said pivot means approaching said wall of the housing uponswinging of said lever in one direction, a latch lug pivoted to said armat a locality within said housing and adapted to normally extendoutwardly beyond said housing, an operating member formed on said armand extending outwardly from said arm, means for guiding said operatingmember for sliding movement in the direction of extent of said wall,said operating member causing movement of the latch lug into the housingand resilient means for moving the latch lug outwardly.

9. In a door latch, a housing, a lever, pivot means between said leverand housing and having a vertical axis, an arm, pivot means between saidlever and arm and having a vertical axis, said last named pivot meansbeing disposed in spaced relation with reference to said first namedpivot means, a striker plate opposite said housing and having a strikingsurface and a vertical latching surface in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of the door, a latch lug normally projectingoutwardly beyond said housing and in the direction of said strikerplate, said latch lug having a latching surface engaging the latchingsurface of said striker plate and substantially coplanar therewith torestrain relative movement therebetween, pivot means between said latchlug and said arm and having a vertical axis, said last named pivot meanslying between said rst and second pivot means, said latch lug having asurface formed with a flat portion spaced from and substantiallyparallel to the latching surface of said latch lug, said housing havinga surface engageable by said second surface of said latch lug andrestraining relative movement between the latching surface of said latchlug and the latching surface of the striker plate to resist opening ofthe door, a striker lug fixed on said arm and substantially overlyingsaid latch lug, said striker lug having a surface engageable with thestriking surface of the striker plate and serving to swing said arminwardly into said housing 9 upon engagement with said striker plate towithdraw said latching lug from engagement with the latching surface ofsaid striker plate, the second named surface of said latch lug having anarcuate portion joining the fiat portion and clearing said surface ofthe housing to accommodate rocking movement of the latch lug on thestriker plate and pivotal movement about the pivot between said latchlug and arm, said surface of the striker lug leading the curved portionof the second surface of the latch lug during closing movement ofthedoor to reduce friction between the latch lugvand housing, and resilientmeans reacting against a part fixed relative to said housing anda partmovable with said arm and urging said'latch lug and striker lug towardsaid striker plate.

10. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to said housing andhaving a portion extending through said housing, said housing having apart adjacent the portion of said lever extending through the housing,an arm pivoted to said leverl and extending through said housing andinto said housing in proximity to said part, a latch lug pivoted to saidarm within said housing and normally projecting through said housing,and an operating member on the outer portion of said arm disposedlaterally from the pivot of said arrn and adapted to engage said partand operating through engagement therewith as a cam upon swinging ofsaid lever to swing said arm and retract the latch lug.

11. In a door latch, a housing, a lever pivoted to said housing, an armpivoted to said lever, a striker plate opposite said housing and havinga striking surface and a latching surface, a latch lug pivoted to saidarm and normally projecting outwardly beyond said housing and in thedirection of said striker plate, said lug having a latching surfaceadapted to engage the latching surface of said striker plate to restrainrelative movement therebetween, said latch lug having a fiat surfaceadapted to engage a corresponding surface on said housing to restrainrelative movement .between said latch lug and housing, said latch lugfurther having a curved surface merging into said flat surface andadapted to clear the surface on said housing after the flat surface haspassed the same, the pivot for said latch lug CHESTER O. GOSERUD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 797,425 Haag Aug. l5, 19051,094,234 Miller Apr. 21, 1914 2,311,688 Olson Feb. 23,1943 2,317,300Quinn Apr. 20, 1943 2,352,465 Anderson et al June 27, 1944

